Antirrhinum plant named ‘YACREY’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Antirrhinum  plant named ‘YACREY’ that is characterized by rose and yellow flowers, mounding habit, and green foliage. In combination these traits set ‘YACREY’ apart from all other existing varieties of  Antirrhinums  known to the inventor.

Genus: Antirrhinum.

Species: majus.

Denomination: ‘YACREY’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofsnapdragon, known botanically as Antirrhinum majus and referred tohereinafter by the cultivar name ‘YACREY’.

‘YACREY’ was selected by the inventor, in 2000, from a formal breedingprogram conducted in a cultivated area of Congleton, Cheshire, England.The breeding program was conducted by the inventor and established in1990, the objective being to select cultivars of snapdragons thatexhibit new flower colors along with new and improved growth habits. Theinventor is also interested in producing varieties of snapdragon whichdo not set seed, since the seed setting on snapdragons is bothunattractive and responsible for greatly reduced flowering.

‘YACREY’ is of hybrid origin and resulted from the inducedcross-pollination of female and male parent seedlings. The female parentis a single plant which was raised from seed obtained from plants of thespecies Antirrhinum majus (unpatented) and the male parent is an unnamedseedling of Antirrhinum (unpatented) which the inventor held in hiscollection and which had arisen from previous open pollinations ofAntirrhinum plants situated at the inventor's nursery. Whilst bothparent plants exhibited a desirable semi-trailing habit, the inventorwas hoping to find a hybrid with bright and unusual flower colors whichwould be sustained through the spring and early summer. ‘YACREY’ wasselected for its combination of mounding habit and bright rose andyellow bicolored flowers that distinguish it from all other Antirrhinumknown to the inventor. The closest comparison plants are the inventor'svarieties of Antirrhinum known as ‘Lemon Blush Chandelier’ (unpatented)and ‘Rose Pink Chandelier’ (unpatented). ‘YACREY’ is distinguishablefrom the comparison plants by less trailing habit, and its rose andyellow flower colors.

The first asexual propagation of ‘YACREY’ was conducted in June 2000 bytheinventor in Congleton, Cheshire, England. The method of propagationused was tip cuttings and the inventor has determined that ‘YACREY’ isstable and reproduces true to type in successive generations of asexualreproduction. The inventor has also determined that ‘YACREY’ is sterileand does produce a continual display of flowers through the main sellingseason for snapdragons.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new Antirrhinum cultivar ‘YACREY’. These traitsin combination distinguish this cultivar from all other commercialvarieties known to the inventor. ‘YACREY’ has not been tested under allpossible conditions and phenotypic differences may be observed withvariations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions.

-   -   1. Antirrhinum ‘YACREY’ exhibits a mounding habit.    -   2. Antirrhinum ‘YACREY’ exhibits short internodes.    -   3. Antirrhinum ‘YACREY’ exhibits rose and yellow flowers.    -   4. Antirrhinum ‘YACREY’ is propagated by tip cuttings.    -   5. Antirrhinum ‘YACREY’ is 25 cm. in height and 35 cm. in width        at maturity.    -   6. Antirrhinum ‘YACREY’ is suitable for use as a container or        patio plant.    -   7. Antirrhinum ‘YACREY’ is hardy to 10° Centigrade.    -   8. Antirrhinum ‘YACREY’ is sterile and floriferous.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance ofthe new cultivar ‘YACREY’ showing the colors to be as true as isreasonably possible to obtain, in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description, which accurately describe the actualcolors of the new variety ‘YACREY’.

The drawing labeled as FIG. 1 illustrates the plant from a sideperspective.

The drawing labeled as FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of the flower.The drawings are made using conventional photographic techniques andalthough foliage color may appear different from actual colors due tolight reflectance, they are as accurate as possible by conventionalphotography.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the new cultivar ‘YACREY’ asgrown in a one-liter container under greenhouse conditions in Encinitas,Calif. Phenotypic differences may be observed with variations inenvironmental, climatic, and cultural conditions. The colordeterminations are in accordance with The Royal Horticultural Societyexcept where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance areused. There are no special growing requirements or growing problemsknown to the inventor.

-   Botanical classification: Antirrhinum ‘YACREY’.-   Species: majus.-   Common name: Snapdragon.-   Use: Container or patio plant.-   Parentage: ‘YACREY’ is a hybrid plant that resulted from induced    cross-pollination between the female and male parent plants. The    male and female parents are unintroduced Antirrhinum hybrids from    the inventors breeding program. Female parent plant: Antirrhinum    majus. Male parent plant: Unnamed Antirrhinum hybrid.    -   -   Propagation.—Tip cuttings.        -   Vigor.—Vigorous.        -   Type.—Annual.        -   Plant dimensions.—15 cm. in height and 25 cm. in width in a            one-liter container.        -   Production of flowers.—An established single plant growing            in a 2 gallon container or in a 10 inch hanging basket            carries approximately 100 open flowers and a similar number            of buds at any one time.        -   Root system.—Fibrous.        -   Diseases and pests.—No known pests or diseases.        -   Plant habit.—Mounding.        -   Cropping time.—8 weeks are needed to produce a finished            4-inch commercial container.        -   Time to develop roots.—10 days are needed to develop roots            on an initial cutting.        -   Temperature to develop roots.—17-20° Centigrade.        -   Seasonal interest.—Flowers in winter, spring and summer.        -   Hardiness.—10° Centigrade.        -   Sunlight requirements.—Normal.        -   Soil requirements.—Free-draining nursery compost or peat.-   Stem:    -   -   Stem shape.—Cylindrical.        -   Stem color.—144B.        -   Stem dimensions.—15 cm in length by 2 mm in diameter.        -   Internode length.—2 cm between nodes.        -   Stem surface.—Stipitate glandular.        -   Branching habit.—Basal branching.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Leaf division.—Simple.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.        -   Vein color (abaxial and adaxial surfaces).—137C.        -   Margins.—Entire.        -   Leaf surfaces (abaxial and adaxial).—Lightly stipitate            glandular.        -   Leaf color (adaxial surface).—137A.        -   Leaf color (abaxial surface).—137C.        -   Leaf dimensions (mature leaves).—3.25 cm. in length and 1.50            cm in width.        -   Leaf dimensions (young leaves).—1.25 cm. in length and            0.75 cm. in width.        -   Leaf fragrance.—Grass-like.        -   Attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Petiole dimensions (mature leaves).—6 mm in length and            1.5 mm. in width.        -   Petiole dimensions (young leaves).—4 mm. in length and 1 mm.            in width.        -   Petiole color.—137C.-   Flower:    -   -   Inflorescence.—Terminal raceme.        -   Aspect.—Outward.        -   Flower shape.—Bilabiate.        -   Flower dimensions.—3 cm. in height, 3 cm. in depth and            1.50 cm. in width.        -   Flower color.—72A, 4A and 72C are individually present on an            individual flower.        -   Bud shape.—Obovate.        -   Bud color.—N78A.        -   Bud dimensions.—1 cm. in length and 0.50 cm. in width.        -   Bud surface.—Stipitate glandular.        -   Number of lips.—Two.        -   Upper lip dimensions.—1.50 cm. in length and 0.50 cm. in            width.        -   Lower lip dimensions.—1.50 cm. in length and 1.75 cm. in            width.        -   Palate dimensions.—1.50 cm. in width and 1.25 cm. in length.        -   Lobes (upper lip).—Two lobes.        -   Lobes (lower lip).—Three lobes.        -   Margins (upper lip).—Revolute and ruffled.        -   Margins (lower lip).—Slightly ruffled and spread.        -   Palate color (upper surface).—Both 4A and 72A are            individually present.        -   Palate color (lower surface).—75D.        -   Upper lip color (adaxial surface).—72A.        -   Upper lip color (abaxial surface).—72C.        -   Lower lip color (adaxial surface).—72A.        -   Lower lip color (abaxial surface).—72C.        -   Corolla tube mouth.—Closed.        -   Corolla tube color (inside surface).—N155C.        -   Corolla tube color (outer surface).—72C.        -   Corolla tube depth.—1.50 cm. in depth.        -   Corolla tube diameter.—0.4 mm.        -   Flowering season.—Winter, spring and summer.        -   Flowering time.—Diurnal.        -   Pedicel dimensions.—4 mm. in length and 1 mm. in width.        -   Pedicel shape.—Cylindrical.        -   Pedicel surface.—Stipitate glandular.        -   Pedicel color.—138C.        -   Calyx color.—138B.        -   Number of sepals.—Five sepals in number, fused at base.        -   Sepal color (adaxial and abaxial surfaces).—138B.        -   Sepal surface.—Stipitate glandular.        -   Sepal shape.—Ovate.        -   Sepal dimensions.—5 mm. in length and 3 mm. in width.        -   Sepal apex.—Acute.        -   Sepal margin.—Entire.        -   Flower fragrance.—Slight fragrance.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Nectary surface (underside of palate).—Lanate.        -   Nectary color.—2C.        -   Stamens.—4 in number.        -   Stamen shape.—Filament.        -   Stamen color.—N155C.        -   Stamen dimensions.—Two are 18 mm. in length and 0.75 mm. in            width, and two are 15 mm. in length and 1 mm. in width.        -   Anther dimensions.—2 mm. in length and 1 mm. in width.        -   Anther shape.—Oval.        -   Anther color.—11 A.        -   Quantity of pollen.—Large amount.        -   Color of pollen.—11A.        -   Pistil.—One in number.        -   Pistil color.—72D.        -   Pistil dimensions.—15 mm. in length and 1 mm. in width.        -   Pistil shape.—Club shaped.        -   Stigma dimensions.—2 mm. in length and 1 mm. in width.        -   Stigma color.—138D.        -   Ovary position.—Superior.        -   Ovary color.—138D.        -   Ovary shape.—Globose.        -   Ovary dimensions.—2 mm. in length and 2 mm. in width.        -   Ovary surface.—Lanate.-   Seed: No seed observed to date.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Antirrhinum plant named ‘YACREY’ asdescribed and illustrated.